Dental bite block for 2D imaging

ABSTRACT

Dental radiographic imaging systems and/or methods for using the same can provide panoramic 2D dental radiographic images. Providing improved panoramic 2D image quality can depend on imaging a desired/selected focal trough, which is itself based on a correct positioning of the patient&#39;s head inside the panoramic dental imaging system. Exemplary dental radiographic imaging systems and/or methods for using the same can provide a patient positioning device (e.g., bite stick embodiments) that can position or urge patients to get the right positioning (such as head tilt) to increase probabilities of the improved/best panoramic image reconstruction. Further, certain exemplary bite stick embodiments can repeatedly, consistently and/or correctly position patient after patient for panoramic imaging.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of and is a U.S. National Phasefiling of PCT Application PCT/IB2014/003251 filed Dec. 23, 2014 entitled“DENTAL BITE BLOCK FOR 2D IMAGING”, in the name of Alric et al, whichclaims benefit of U.S. Provisional application U.S. Ser. No. 62/016,785,provisionally filed on Jun. 14, 2014, entitled DENTAL BITE BLOCK FOR 2DIMAGING”, in the name of Alric et al, all of which are incorporatedherein in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to the field of medical x-ray imaging,and more particularly, dental imaging apparatus and/or methods forcorrect positioning for dental panoramic X-ray imaging.

BACKGROUND

A panoramic dental imaging apparatus and/or methods can include avertical column that supports a horizontal mount. A rotatable gantrywith an x-ray source and a sensor disposed face to face on each of itsextremities hangs below the horizontal mount. The gantry is able torotate and translate in a horizontal plane with the patient positionedbetween the source and the sensor. A collimator is positioned in frontof the x-ray source to shape an elongated x-ray beam.

During the panoramic imaging process, the x-ray source successivelyradiates x-ray towards overlapping regions of the dental arch and theradiation that has passed through the patient's teeth impinges thesensor. During the panoramic scanning, the gantry both translates androtates and the source and sensor (e.g., at both extremities) canachieve a predetermined kinematic. A plurality of two dimensional (2D)images of the overlapping region are collected. At the end of thepanoramic scan, a two-dimensional panoramic image of the whole dentalarches can be reconstructed by merging the plurality of images.

Traditionally, the patient's head is fixed in position relative to thedevice for taking a panoramic radiograph by use of a patient's headpositioner including a forehead pad and/or ear pads, a bite block, anasion, or a chin pad. The necessary alignment of the head is usuallyachieved with the aid of optical lines projected onto the patient's headand depicting the Frankfort plane (Frankfurt plane or Francfort plane).For a correct patient's positioning allowing a good image quality, theFrankfort horizontal plane containing a straight line passing though thebottom of the eye socket and the ear canal must be horizontal.

The position of the occlusal plane is not directly registered but onlyindirectly by way of the Frankfort horizontal plane. To this end, theFrankfort horizontal plane projected onto the patient's head by thepanoramic X-ray device and the incisal teeth in the edge-to-edge biteare used to derive the position of the occlusal plane. The correlationbetween the occlusal plane and the Frankfort horizontal plane isgenerally acknowledged from an anatomical standpoint, but positioningerrors relative to the Frankfort horizontal plane of the patient cannotbe excluded.

It can be appreciated that there is still a need for positioningapparatus and/or methods for panoramic imaging that can provide acheaper, repeatable, consistent, and/or accurate positioning in animaging area of a dental panoramic imaging apparatus.

SUMMARY

An aspect of this application is to advance the art of medical digitalradiography, particularly for dental panoramic applications.

Another aspect of this application is to address, in whole or in part,at least the foregoing and other deficiencies in the related art.

It is another aspect of this application to provide, in whole or inpart, at least the advantages described herein.

An advantage offered by apparatus and/or method embodiments of theapplication relates to repeatable, consistent, and/or accuratepositioning in an imaging area of a dental panoramic imaging apparatus.

Another advantage offered by apparatus and/or method embodiments of theapplication relates to patient support structures to provide a spatialrelationship that comprises a 6° to 10° angle or a 7° to 8° anglebetween contacting surfaces of opposing occlusal teeth in the dentalarch and a Frankfort plane of a patient.

Another advantage offered by apparatus and/or method embodiments of theapplication relates to consistent patient positioning of a Frankfortplane within an imaging area of an extra-oral dental radiographicimaging system including a panoramic imaging capability.

According to one aspect of the disclosure, there is provided INDEPENDENTMETHOD CLAIM in paragraph form.

According to one aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a dentalimaging apparatus that can include a movable mount comprising at leastone of a radiation source and a digital imaging sensor; an actuator thatis energizable to move the movable mount in a scan pattern about animaging area; a computer in signal communication with the digitalimaging sensor and configured to acquire one or more of two-dimensionalimages of the digital imaging sensor positioned relative to theradiation source for the scan pattern; and a patient support structureto provide a spatial relationship to the scan pattern, where the spatialrelationship aligns an occlusal plane determined by the patient supportstructure in the imaging area, where the spatial relationship includes a6° to 10° angle with a portion of the scan pattern of the movable mount.

According to one aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a method ofpositioning a subject for dental radiographic imaging that can includeproviding a bitable bite block including opposing surfaces, where theopposing surfaces are configured to form a prescribed angle comprisedbetween 6° and 10° from a prescribed plane; positioning the opposingsurfaces of the bitable bite block between at least some upper teeth andone or more lower teeth to align a Frankfort plane of a patient parallelto the prescribed plane.

These objects are given only by way of illustrative example, and suchobjects may be exemplary of one or more embodiments of the invention.Other desirable objectives and advantages inherently achieved by theinvention may occur or become apparent to those skilled in the art. Theinvention is defined by the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of theinvention will be apparent from the following more particulardescription of the embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in theaccompanying drawings.

The elements of the drawings are not necessarily to scale relative toeach other. Some exaggeration may be necessary in order to emphasizebasic structural relationships or principles of operation. Someconventional components that would be needed for implementation of thedescribed embodiments, such as support components used for providingpower, for packaging, and for mounting and protecting x-ray systemcomponents, for example, are not shown in the drawings in order tosimplify description.

FIG. 1 is a diagram that shows a view of a focal trough (e.g., area offocus) during a panoramic scan illustrated with respect to lower jaw.

FIGS. 2a-2c are diagrams that respectively show a cross-section of thefocal trough during a panoramic scan with respect to a paired teeth fromthe upper and lower jaw illustrating the root and crown of the pairedteeth.

FIG. 3 is a diagram that shows an exemplary relationship between aFrankfort horizontal plane and an occlusal plane according toembodiments of the application.

FIG. 4 is a diagram that shows an exemplary dental X-ray imagingpanoramic apparatus that can use patient support embodiments andimplement method embodiments for using the same according to theapplication.

FIG. 5 is a diagram that shows an exemplary patient holder ensembleembodiment according to the application.

FIG. 6 is a diagram that shows exemplary incisor flanges and arelationship between a distance dimension between the bite (e.g.,offset) of the upper and lower teeth (e.g., incisor(s)) and a widthdimension between arms extending to contact an occusal surface between(e.g., molars) portions of the upper and lower jaw according toexemplary embodiments of the application.

FIG. 7 is a diagram that shows exemplary positioning support embodimentscan allow the Frankfort horizontal plane to be parallel to the scanningplan.

FIG. 8 is a diagram that shows exemplary positioning support embodimentscan allow the Frankfort horizontal plane to be parallel to the scanningplan.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart that shows an exemplary method of generating apanoramic image using a dental extra-oral system according toembodiments of the application.

FIG. 10 is a diagram that shows an exemplary dental X-ray imagingpanoramic apparatus that can use patient support embodiments andimplement method embodiments for using the same according to theapplication.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The following is a description of exemplary embodiments, reference beingmade to the drawings in which the same reference numerals identify thesame elements of structure in each of the several figures.

Where they are used in the context of the present disclosure, the terms“first”, “second”, and so on, do not necessarily denote any ordinal,sequential, or priority relation, but are simply used to more clearlydistinguish one step, element, or set of elements from another, unlessspecified otherwise.

As used herein, the term “energizable” relates to a device or set ofcomponents that perform an indicated function upon receiving power and,optionally, upon receiving an enabling signal. The term “actuable” hasits conventional meaning, relating to a device or component that iscapable of effecting an action in response to a stimulus, such as inresponse to an electrical signal, for example.

Apparatus and/or method embodiments according to the application aim atfacilitating a repeatable, accurate and rapid orientation of an occusalplane to the Frankfort plane for panoramic imaging.

FIG. 1 is a diagram that shows a focal trough during a panoramic scanillustrated with respect to top view of a lower jaw. As shown in FIG. 1,all the anatomic elements that are located inside a narrow zone of sharpfocus 1, named the focal trough, are sharp on the panoramic image andanatomic elements located outside of the focal trough 1 are blurred. Apanoramic image is then composed of sharp elements form the focal trough1 superimposed on a kinetic blur. The position and thickness of thefocal trough 1 depends on the kinematics (e.g., trajectory, linearand/or angular speed) of the gantry supporting the source and sensor(e.g., width of the sensor), as well as characteristics andconfiguration of any filtering devices (e.g., collimator) shaping thebeam. In one example, a thickness of the focal trough can be 2.5 cm atthe position of the molar and less than 1 cm at the position of theincisors.

Further, the focal trough 1 dimensions can be a tradeoff betweenprecision data and amount of data. On one hand, there is a benefit needto have a focal trough thin enough to obtain precise information on theanatomical structure. On the other hand, an entire dental arch 2 shouldor preferably must be located inside the focal trough 1. Especially,each entire tooth including crown and roots should or preferably must belocated entirely inside the focal trough 1, otherwise, some anatomicalinformation can be lacking from the panoramic image.

For any exemplary kinetics of the gantry, the relative position of theteeth, and especially the incisors, and the dental arch, depends on theorientation of the head relative to the horizontal plane of thedisplacement of the x-ray source and the sensor. Especially, theangulation of the patient head may be critical for the presence of theroots of the incisors being inside the focal trough 1 and thus, shown inthe panoramic image.

FIGS. 2a-2c are diagrams that respectively show a cross-section of thefocal trough during a panoramic scan with respect to a paired teeth fromthe upper and lower jaw illustrating roots and crowns of the pairedteeth. For example, as shown in FIGS. 2a-2c , the patient bites a bitestick 4 (bite block, bite wing, etc.) and the bite stick 4 is intendedfor patient's positioning, but the patient's head can rotate easily.When the patient's head is rotated forward relative to a correctposition, the whole upper incisor 3 a with its root 3 ar and its crown 3ac is within the area of sharp focus 1, but the root 3 br of a pairedlower incisor 3 b is out of the area of sharp focus 1. On the contraryand as shown in FIG. 2b , when the patient's head is too tilted is therear direction, a whole lower incisor 3 b with its root 3 br and itscrown 3 bc lies inside the focal trough 1, but the root 3 ar of theupper tooth 3 a is out of the area of sharp focus 1. As shown in FIG. 2c, only a correct angular positioning of the patient's head allows thelocation of the whole upper incisor 3 a and the paired lower incisor 3 bto be in the area of sharp focus 1.

FIG. 3 is a diagram that shows a relationship between a Frankforthorizontal plane and an occusal plane according to exemplary embodimentsof the application. In certain exemplary embodiments, the inventorsdetermined that it appears that an improved angular position or the bestangular position of the patient's head to have the full mouth series ofteeth (and especially the incisors with their crowns and roots) insidethe focal trough 1 is the position at which the Frankfort plane 200 ofthe patient is parallel to the plane of displacement (e.g., horizontalplane) of the source and sensor 100 or scanning plane 100. As shown inFIG. 3, the Frankfort horizontal plane 200 is the plane containing theear canals and the bottom of the eye sockets. The Frankfort horizontalplane 200 can preferably form with the occlusal plane (or bite plane)300, an angle in the range 6-10 degrees for a very large majority ofpatients. It is consequently desirable or necessary to provide apanoramic patient positioner or bite block that forces and/or ensuresthe position (e.g., consistently, repeatedly, accurately, etc.) thepatient occlusal plane 300 to be at a 6-10° angle relative to the planeof motion of the x-ray source and sensor 100 or scanning plane 100, sothat the Frankfort horizontal plane 200 lies parallel to (or within) tothe Frankfort horizontal plane 200.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,497,619 discloses a bite block where bite piece surfaceforms a 15 degrees angle with the scanning plan. Such an angle is notappropriate to locate the incisors (as a whole, including the crown andthe roots) in a thin focal trough, especially for focal trough smallerthan 1 cm. There is consequently a need for a bite block/dental patientpositioner and methods for using the same that can provide a correct(e.g., repeatable) angle between a bite stick (e.g., surface) and thescanning plane (or focal trough).

Additional exemplary advantages for using the Frankfurt horizontal planeexist. According to exemplary embodiments of the application, these caninclude but are not limited to, for example, panoramic imaging phantomscan be less visible in Frankfort horizontal plane so a global contrastof the panoramic image can be improved, increased or subjectively betterwhen the patient is positioned in/based on the Frankfort horizontalplane.

FIG. 4 is a diagram that shows an exemplary dental X-ray imagingpanoramic apparatus that can incorporate patient support embodiments andimplement methods for using the same according to the application. Asshown in FIG. 4, an exemplary dental X-ray imaging panoramic apparatusembodiment can include a support frame 11 (e.g., vertical frame)supporting a horizontal arm 12 and being able to adjust in one or moredirections, for example, to the patient's height as illustrated bybi-directional arrow A. A rotatable gantry 13 can be coupled to or heldby the horizontal arm 12 and can support in opposition (e.g., on each ofits extremities), a sensor 14 and an x-ray source 15 facing each other.An actuator (not represented) can rotate and/or translate the gantry 13.During a panoramic scan, the source 15 and sensor 14 can follow a presettrajectory (2D/3D) that can in part or completely occur in a plane 100(or parallel to) named the scanning plane (e.g., horizontal).

FIG. 5 is a diagram that shows a first exemplary patient holder ensembleembodiment according to the application. As shown in FIG. 5, anexemplary patient holder ensemble 16 embodiment can precisely position apatient between the source and the sensor. The patient holder ensemble16 can include a chin rest 17 and a bite stick 18. The chin rest 17includes a support surface 19 to support the patient's chin and a groove20. The chin rest can be coupled to the rotatable gantry 13 or thehorizontal arm 12 to position the patient with a prescribed position inthe imaging area between the source 15 and sensor 14. The bite block 18can include a shaft 21 that engages the groove 20 of the chin rest 17and slides along the groove 20 to movably or reciprocally fix the bitestick 18 on the chin rest 17 (e.g., at various locations). Theadjustment of the bite block 18 along the groove 20 can compensate forvarious patient heights. The bite stick 18 can also comprise a bitepiece 22. This bite piece 22 can include a flat surface having aprescribed shape to match the mouth or dental arch (e.g., the generalshape of a horse shoe, a “U” or in other words the shape of a dentalarch). Preferably, a shape of the bite piece 22 can provide advantagessuch as a portion or a large part of the upper and lower dental arch isin contact with the bite piece, any tilt of the head of the patient canbe reduced/ prevented, and/or occlusal plane or opposing occlusal toothsurfaces can contact or be guided by the bite piece 22. The bite piece,when fixed between the occlusal surfaces of the upper and lower teeth(e.g., bitten on) can correctly orient the occusal plane with reduced oreliminated error caused by front-to-back and/or side-to-side movement orthe patient's head. In one exemplary embodiment, the bite piece 22 canbe a solid hemisphere. In another exemplary embodiment, the bite piece22 can have recesses or holes corresponding to some of the upper and/orlower teeth. In yet another exemplary embodiment, the bite piece 22 canhave projections to align some of the upper and/or lower teeth. Incertain exemplary embodiments, two (or more) flanges 23 a and 23 b canbe respectively formed on an upper side and a lower side (e.g., eachside or opposite sides) of the flat surface of the bite piece 22. Thepatient's front teeth (e.g., incisors, upper and lower, respectively)are leant against the flanges 23 a and 23 b to ensure a good positioningof the patient in the front-to-rear direction. In one embodiment, abuccal side surface of the incisors contacts a flat surface of theflanges 23 a and 23 b on the side of the bite piece 22, which can locatethe incisors to a known selected position before an x-ray imaging scanor exposure.

FIG. 6 is a diagram that shows an exemplary incisor flange embodimentand a relationship between a distance dimension between the bite (e.g.,offset) of the upper and lower teeth (e.g., incisor(s)) and a widthdimension between arms of a bite piece extending to contact an occusalsurface between (e.g., molars) portions of the upper and lower jawaccording to exemplary embodiments of the application. In one exemplaryembodiment, a distance dimension (e.g., horizontal distance) between theflanges 23 a and 23 b and a width dimension of our bite stick can berelated. For example, upper and lower incisors bite should be on exactlythe same focal trough and this shared focal trough can be defined by thehorizontal distance set by the flange(s) 23 a and 23 b (e.g., betweencorresponding front or back surfaces) and/or sizes (e.g., width at thebase or midpoint) of the flange(s) 23 a and 23 b themselves). In anx-ray projection image (e.g., used to form the panoramic image ofteeth), the upper incisor(s) can be distinguished from the lowerincisor(s). In one exemplary embodiment, such a projection image can beused to measure the distance dimension between the bite, which is usedto define/determine the desired/minimum width of our bite stick 18 (orbite piece 22). As shown in FIG. 6, there can be a prescribedrelationship between these parameters. In one embodiment, when DeltaX isthe distance between flanges 23 a and 23 b, an angle (a°) of our bitestick to an horizontal plane and W the width of our bite stick, thenDeltaX>=sin(a°)*W.

In one embodiment, the groove 20 of the chin rest 17 and the shaft 21 ofthe bite block 18 engaged inside the groove 20 are vertical andperpendicular to the scanning plane 100. The bite surface 22 can formwith the shaft 21, an angle comprised between 96 degrees and 100degrees. Consequently, when the shaft is inserted inside the verticalgroove 20, the flat bite surface 22 can form with the horizontalscanning plane 100 an angle α comprised between 6 degrees and 10degrees. As shown in FIG. 7, such exemplary embodiments can allow theFrankfort horizontal plane 200 to be parallel to the scanning plan 100.As shown in FIG. 8, such exemplary embodiments can allow the Frankforthorizontal plane 200 to be parallel to the scanning plan 100 while apositioning (e.g., 3D spatial position relative to the x-ray imagingscan) of the incisors (e.g., in the focal trough) can be controlled.

In certain exemplary embodiments, a value of the angle (e.g., angle α)between the bite surface 22 and the scanning plane 100 is preferablybetween 7 degrees and 8 degrees. In another exemplary embodiment, theangle value is preferably between 6 degrees and 8 degrees. In stillanother exemplary embodiment, the angle value is preferably between 8degrees and 10 degrees.

Such exemplary bite block embodiments with a bite piece tilted with a6-10 degrees angle relative to the Frankfort horizontal plane canallow/urge/force patient's head to reach and get positioned to an anglefitting with the correct alignment to the Frankfort horizontal plane.Such exemplary bite block embodiments with a bite piece tilted with a6-10 degrees angle relative to the scanning plane can allow dental archand/or localizations of the dental arch (e.g., the crown and root of theincisors) to be inside a focal trough having a thickness smaller than 10mm. In one embodiment, dental cephalometric radiographic images can betaken.

Referring to FIG. 9, a flow chart that shows an exemplary method ofgenerating a panoramic image using a dental extra-oral system accordingto embodiments of the application will now be described. As shown inFIG. 9, the method can be implemented by embodiments of radiographicdental positioning support structures shown in FIGS. 5-8; however, themethod of FIG. 9 is not intended to be limited thereby.

As shown in FIG. 9, a positioning support structure can be attached toor positioned in an imaging area of a dental extra-oral system(operation block 902). In one embodiment, a bite block can be attachedto or adjusted along the positioning support structure in the imagingarea. The bite block includes an occlusal contact surface at aprescribed angle between 6° and 10° from a panoramic image scanningplane of an x-ray source and detector of the system (operation block904). Preferably, by placing occlusal surfaces of the mandibular andmaxillary arches against opposing surface of the bite block, a dentalarch can be placed in a focal trough while also positioning a Frankforthorizontal plane of a patient's head containing the dental arch parallel(e.g., horizontal) to the panoramic image scanning plane of an x-raysource and detector of the system. Optionally, a height of the biteblock can be adjusted while the occlusal contact surface remains in theprescribed angle between 6° and 10° from a panoramic image scanningplane (operation block 906). At this point, a panoramic scan of theimaging area (e.g., dental arch) can be performed as known to one ofordinary skill in the art of panoramic imaging.

Other exemplary dental imaging systems can combine one or more of CT,panoramic, and cephalometric imaging to form a single apparatus. FIG. 10shows an exemplary dental CT, panoramic, and cephalometric imagingsystem. As shown in FIG. 10, a patient or other subject is positionedbetween an x-ray source part 410 and an x-ray sensor part 420 in asystem 400. Either a CT sensor 423 and/or a panoramic sensor 421 can bepositioned for obtaining/performing an exposure for CT imaging orpanoramic imaging, respectively. As shown in FIG. 10, the combinedpanoramic, CT, and cephalometric imaging system 400 can include orremove a separate cephalometric imaging part 430 mounted at a separatearm 435. Separate patient positioners can be used (or duplicated) foreach imaging mode, or shared between at least two imaging modes. Certainexemplary apparatus and/or method embodiments described herein can beapplicable to positioners used for one or more imaging modes shown inFIG. 9.

In one exemplary embodiment, a dental imaging apparatus configured toobtain a panoramic radiographic image of at least a portion of a dentalarch can include a movable mount that can include at least one of aradiation source and a digital imaging sensor; an actuator that isenergizable to move the movable mount in a predeterminedthree-dimensional scan pattern; a computer in signal communication withthe digital imaging sensor and configured to acquire one or more oftwo-dimensional images of the digital imaging sensor in the scanpattern; and a bite stick to provide a spatial relationship thatcomprises a 6° to 10° angle between contacting surfaces of opposingocclusal teeth in the dental arch and a Frankfort horizontal plane of apatient.

In one embodiment, a patient positioning structure or a bite piecethereof is preferably equipped with a replaceable protective sheath forhygienic reasons. Alternatively, the can be in the form of a replaceablebite piece. In one embodiment, the patient positioning structure caninclude a bite wing or a bitable shape or a flat shape corresponding tothe dental arch or occlusal surfaces of the upper and/or lower jaw(e.g., solid or elongated arms with a gap therebetween). The patientpositioning structure is preferably composed of a hard material,particularly a substantially radiolucent material. In one embodiment,patient positioning structure preferably occupies an angular range of amandibular arch, which is between 20° and 40°, which can substantiallyreduce or prevents any sideways tipping or tilting of the patient'shead. In one embodiment, the patient positioning structure has on itsupper surface and on its undersurface a bite groove to accommodate partof the dental arch of the patient's upper and lower jaw respectively. Inone embodiment, the patient positioning structure can include sensors todetermine when a bite stick is firmly pressed between occusal surfacesof the mandibular and maxillary arches. An audible alert or visualindication can identify the selected tension/force.

Certain exemplary bite block embodiments use a fixed bite pieceselectively tilted with a 6-10 degrees angle relative to the scanningplane so that the dental arch or localizations thereof can be inside afocal trough. Thus, one exemplary embodiment can have a fixed bite pieceselectively tilted at 8 degrees angle relative to the scanning plane.However, selected individuals or patients can have a Frankfort planebetween 6-10 degrees angle relative to the scanning plane. Accordingly,some exemplary embodiments can have a set of fixed bite piecesselectively tilted at 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 degree angles, respectively,relative to the scanning plane. In one embodiment, an x-ray scout imageor pre-shoot exposure can be performed before the dental imagingexposure (e.g., panoramic imaging). The x-ray scout view can be usedwith imaging applications known to one skilled in the art to locatephysical features of the patient that can be used to determine an anglebetween the Frankfort plane and the occlusal plane for a given patient.Then, the dentist can use the identified or preferred bite piece of theset of fixed bite pieces selectively tilted at 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 degreeangles (according to the x-ray scout image or pre-shoot exposure of thegiven patient) for a subsequent dental imaging exposure (e.g., panoramicscan).

Exemplary applications of apparatus and/or method embodiments hereinwere described with respect to panoramic imaging of the teeth, however,embodiments of the application are not intended to be so limited, forexample additional applications of described embodiments can include butare not limited to medical fields, NDT fields, and/or applicationsincluding orthodontics, periodontics, endodontics, prosthodontics, oraland maxillofacial surgery, or pediatric dentistry. Certain exemplaryapparatus and/or method embodiments according to the application can beused for dental imaging apparatus including at least one of a panoramicdental imaging apparatus, a combined dental imaging apparatus includinga panoramic dental imaging device and at least one of a computedtomography dental imaging device image, a cephalometric dental imagingdevice, an ultrasonic dental imaging device, or an ENT a radiographicimaging device.

Exemplary embodiments according to the application can include variousfeatures described herein (individually or in combination).

While the invention has been illustrated with respect to one or moreimplementations, alterations and/or modifications can be made to theillustrated examples without departing from the spirit and scope of theappended claims. In addition, while a particular feature of theinvention can have been disclosed with respect to one of severalimplementations, such feature can be combined with one or more otherfeatures of the other implementations as can be desired and advantageousfor any given or particular function. The term “at least one of” is usedto mean one or more of the listed items can be selected. The term“about” indicates that the value listed can be somewhat altered, as longas the alteration does not result in nonconformance of the process orstructure to the illustrated embodiment. Finally, “exemplary” indicatesthe description is used as an example, rather than implying that it isan ideal. Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practiceof the invention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specificationand examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope andspirit of the invention being indicated by the following claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A dental imaging apparatus for obtaining aradiographic image of an object, the apparatus comprising: a movablemount comprising at least one of a radiation source and a digitalimaging sensor; an actuator that is energizable to move the movablemount in a scan pattern about an imaging area; a computer in signalcommunication with the digital imaging sensor and configured to acquireone or more of two-dimensional images of the digital imaging sensorpositioned relative to the radiation source for the scan pattern; and apatient support structure to provide a spatial relationship to the scanpattern, where the spatial relationship aligns an occlusal planedetermined by the patient support structure in the imaging area, wherethe spatial relationship comprises a 6° to 10° angle with a scanningplane of the scan pattern of the movable mount, and where the patientsupport structure comprises a chin rest, where the chin rest isconnected to the dental imaging apparatus with a prescribed relationshipto the movable mount; where the patient support structure furthercomprises a set of fixed bite pieces selectively tilted in a range of7-8 degree angles for a subsequent dental imaging exposure, and wherethe patient support structure that is configured to couple to the set offixed bite pieces is not pivotable.
 2. A dental imaging apparatus forobtaining a radiographic image of an object, the apparatus comprising: amovable mount comprising at least one of a radiation source and adigital imaging sensor; an actuator that is energizable to move themovable mount in a scan pattern about an imaging area; a computer insignal communication with the digital imaging sensor and configured toacquire one or more of two-dimensional images of the digital imagingsensor positioned relative to the radiation source for the scan pattern;and a patient support structure to provide a spatial relationship to thescan pattern, where the spatial relationship aligns an occlusal planedetermined by the patient support structure in the imaging area, wherethe spatial relationship comprises a 6° to 10° angle with a scanningplane of the scan pattern of the movable mount, and where the patientsupport structure comprises a set of at least one fixed, rigid bitepieces selectively tilted in a range of 7-8 degree angles for asubsequent dental imaging exposure, and where the patient supportstructure that is configured to couple to the set of fixed, rigid bitepieces is not pivotable.